I can't equalize the pressure in my ears? ideas?

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1QCKPSD

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I've been interested in diving and started looking into it in the last few months. My Father worked for the city fire department for 25 years and was also certified (not sure with who/what agency, didn't ask) and was a volunteer on some sort of city dive rescue/recovery team which is what originally got me interested.. He retired about 6 months ago from both the fire department and diving but I'd expressed interest in learning to dive/get certified and he said that if I was serious, he still knew some guys and could probably get me in a class for a cheap cost/maybe free. The fire department payed for his certification so he wasn't sure on cost but he did opt to buy his own equipment and said it was serviced about 2 months before he retired and it was mine if I decided to do it. (guessing that servicing has to be done yearly or something?)

Anyway, As much as I'd love to do it, I'm not sure if I can. My wife and I purchased a house a couple years ago with a 10ft deep swimming pool and I've tried more times than I can count and I just don't know how or can't equalize the pressure in my ears. The pain at 8+ feet is hell and only gets worse the deeper I go. I've read a lot of articles on it and tried everything but I just won't happen. It's been a few years and I might be wrong but I remember my father saying something about having to go 70-80ft down during the certification test etc among other things. The deepest I've ever been us 12ft deep due to the excruciating pain. No way in the world I'd be able to make it much deeper than that. I'm afraid that it would just be a waste of time/money if I'm unable to relieve the pressure. Otherwise I can't go past 10ft for more than a few seconds because of the pain.

I'm 30yrs old now, but when I was a kid I had killer ear aches that usually occurred at least twice a summer since I was in our swimming pool daily but around the age of 12-13 years old they just stopped and never had one since. I never had tubes in my ears although I probably should have looking back but i wonder if my ear issues has anything to do with me not being able to equalize the pressure?

Has anyone else had this problem relieving the pressure in their ears? I'm sure that If I can't do it, then thats pretty much a deal breaker for diving right?

Thanks,
 
What exactly are you doing or have tried to do to equalize?
 
well, I simply googled some diving sites and how to's and tried their recommended methods. I really have no idea what I'm doing but tried to follow along as best I could. Heres one site I've referenced with a few techniques that I couldn't make work.

Guide to Avoiding Ear & Sinus Injuries in Scuba Diving

How to Equalize

The Valsalva Maneuver.

In what is probably the most commonly taught means of equalizing pressure during diving, divers close their mouths, pinches their noses and blow gently. Avoid blowing too hard and over-inflating the middle ear space. This can occur if divers are overly excited or having a difficult time equalizing during descent - and especially if they have waited too long before attempting to equalize. The result could be injury to the middle or inner ear.

The Frenzel Maneuver.
This method is similar to the Valsalva maneuver, except that instead of blowing air into the sinuses, the diver closes the nose and mouth, and drives the tongue backwards on the roof of the mouth. The muscle contraction opens the nasal cavities and eustachian tubes, which allows air into the middle ear.

The Yawn & Swallow.

Some divers can simply swallow, yawn or thrust their lower jaw forward and open their mouths while using their lips to maintain a seal with the regulator mouthpiece. This opens the eustachian tube to the middle ear, which equalizes pressure. As long as the sinuses also equalize easily, this maneuver is acceptable.
For many divers, a combination of these methods - even switching back and forth during a single descent - works best.

Prevention is the Key

The most common reason divers suffer barotrauma is a failure to inflate their ears and sinuses with additional air during descent. Often divers mistakenly wait to equalize their ears or sinuses when they feel discomfort. Begin the equalizing process by inflating your ears and sinuses with air before entering the water or beginning your descent - this ensures that the air passages are open and clearing is possible. A slow, steady descent with frequent inflation (every 1 to 2 feet) is then possible without barotrauma.
If you feel discomfort, stop your descent and ascend a few feet until the discomfort is relieved. Attempt to clear but do not continue your descent unless your sinuses and middle ear spaces have equalized.
Some divers may use topical nasal vasoconstrictors such as Afrin®, which may help with the process of equalizing when used before a dive. Regardless of the technique you use to equalize your ears and sinuses, remember to descend slowly until you can easily clear these air spaces.

To avoid barotrauma, remember:


  • Test your ears and sinuses by equalizing prior to entering the water or prior to your descent;
  • Descend at a slow, steady pace and keep up with your clearing maneuvers;
  • Do not continue to descend and forcefully clear if you're having difficulty - stop your descent before you experience ear or sinus pain (waiting until you feel discomfort to begin clearing means you've waited too long);
  • Descend and equalize in a feet-first position; it is easier than head-first;
  • If you do experience pain or discomfort, ascend until it is relieved;
  • Equalize early and often to stay "ahead" of barotrauma.

Difficulty EqualizingWhat if you can't equalize? First, don't dive until the problem is resolved. If a diver has trouble equalizing the sinuses and middle ear, there may be some pre-existing problem - the most common is diving with a cold or flu. Frequently the mucous membrane will retain fluid and swell, partially occluding the air passages to your sinuses and the Eustachian tube going from the back of your throat to the middle ear. This not only makes clearing difficult, but it may prevent it altogether.
Other recognizable factors in equalizing problems are:

  • a history of childhood ear infections or even one severe infection that may leave the eustachian tube scarred and partially occluded;
  • a history of a broken nose or a deviated septum that prevents one ear or set of sinuses from clearing as fast as the opposite side;
  • hay fever, which may produce swelling of the mucous membranes or cause nasal polyps that can partially or completely occlude a sinus cavity or airway.
If you have a history that includes these conditions and want to dive successfully, it may require referral to an ear, nose and throat physician or allergy specialist who is familiar with these conditions.Symptoms of Barotrauma
The most common barotrauma symptom a diver experiences may be mild discomfort to intense pain in the sinus or middle ear - this is usually the first indication of a problem in equalizing. Middle ear barotrauma may also include symptoms of ringing or hearing loss. As blood or fluid accumulates in the middle ear a diver may experience a partial, complete or muffled hearing loss as well as damage to the inner ear. Roaring in the ear, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, a sensation of spinning and decreased hearing may also indicate inner ear barotrauma, which requires urgent specialized treatment. Blood from the nose or in the sputum is also an indication of barotrauma and does not have to be associated with other symptoms. These are symptoms that should probably end the day's - and possibly the week's - diving. Continuing to dive with barotrauma may result in serious injury.

Treatment and Medication

If you experience any symptoms during or after a dive, then you should consult a physician to determine the extent of the injury, or if there is some treatable condition causing the problem. Your physician can determine the correct treatment and medication for sinus or middle ear barotrauma and refer you to an ear, nose and throat specialist if necessary. Proper care and medication under a physician's supervision can reduce the time divers experience barotrauma symptoms - and the sooner they can get back into the water to enjoy diving.
 
Can you easily clear your ears in an airplane or during other sudden pressure changes? i.e. in a fast moving elevator, going up a mountian, etc
 
I can do it on a plane. It's not always easy but swallowing, combined with a bit of blowing while holding my nose and works just fine in an airplane. I would have thought if it works on a plane then I could do it in the water as well

The part in the article that says the sentence below is what kind of has me worried. I had so many ear infections from age 5 to age 13 that maybe there has been damage thats preventing me from being able to do it...
  • a history of childhood ear infections or even one severe infection that may leave the eustachian tube scarred and partially occluded;



 
The entire game changes when you're not holding your breath and you can take your time.

If it hurts, you're already too deep.
 
The part in the article that says the sentence below is what kind of has me worried. I had so many ear infections from age 5 to age 13 that maybe there has been damage thats preventing me from being able to do it...

a history of childhood ear infections or even one severe infection that may leave the eustachian tube scarred and partially occluded;

I can do on a plane. It's not always easy but swallowing, combined with a bit of blowing while holding my nose and works just fine in an airplane



The best thing to do is go to a doctor and have your ears checked. Experimenting can lead to a worsening of any issues you may already have. Diving down to depths where you're experiencing ear pain, even in a pool, is a bad practice and can cause further problems. You'll have to go to a Dr. anyway when you sign the section of the waiver that asks about past ear issues.
Make sure the Dr. knows about your past ear issues and that you want to get into scuba.
 
So you saying start trying to do it before I really start feeling the pressure?
 
You might want to check with a ear nose and throat doc before you go any further. The key is equalize every few feet before you feel pressure. Based on your ear problems I think the doctor visit would be a good start.
 
Can you "pressurize" your ears while standing on land? If so, you SHOULD be able to do it in the water. As AJ says, it's a lot easier when you are breathing, and you may be one of those people who has to descend very slowly at first, equalizing at very frequent intervals.
 
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